Data Programme Director

Albany Beck; Greater London; On-site; GBP 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Albany Beck is partnering with a leading Financial Services organisation undergoing a significant enterprise-wide data transformation. We are seeking an experienced Data Programme Director to take ownership of a portfolio of complex data initiatives that are critical to the organisation's long‑term strategy.

You will inherit active programmes, assess delivery health, identify risks, and implement structures to ensure successful execution across data engineering, architecture, migration,

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading large-scale data transformation programmes within Financial Services.
• Proven track record delivering complex programmes that are already in flight.
• Experience delivering major data migration, integration, modernisation or platform transformation initiatives.
• Strong programme governance, dependency management and delivery planning expertise.
• Executive-level stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Wealth Management, Asset Management or broader Investment Services experience.
• Exposure to Azure-based data ecosystems and Databricks environments.
• Experience working with major systems integrators and technology implementation partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of large-scale data transformation programmes.
• Establish a consolidated view of delivery plans, milestones, dependencies, risks and resource requirements.
• Drive programme delivery from initiation through to implementation, testing, business adoption and operational handover.
• Lead and coordinate multiple workstreams across data engineering, architecture, migration, integration, reporting, data quality and business readiness.
• Review existing programme delivery approaches and implement improvements where required.
• Build strong governance frameworks that provide visibility and control while maintaining delivery momentum.
• Strengthen RAID management, decision governance and dependency tracking across programmes.
• Ensure robust data controls, validation processes and acceptance criteria are embedded throughout delivery.
• Provide clear and transparent reporting to executive stakeholders, steering committees and senior leadership teams.
• Manage relationships with third‑party suppliers, implementation partners and technology vendors.
• Lead and mentor programme and project teams operating across both permanent and consultancy resource models.
• Support the transition of programme outcomes into sustainable operational ownership and business‑as‑usual processes.
• Collaborate closely with senior leaders across Data, Technology, Architecture, Governance and Business functions.

Skills

Executive-level stakeholder management

Leadership of large delivery teams

Strategic leadership

Governance and delivery planning

RAID management

Vendor management

Budget management

Strong communication skills

Tools

Azure Data Platform

Databricks

Job description

Albany Beck is partnering with a leading Financial Services organisation undergoing a significant enterprise-wide data transformation. We are seeking an experienced Data Programme Director to take ownership of a portfolio of complex data initiatives that are critical to the organisation's long‑term strategy.

This is a senior leadership role for an individual who can quickly establish control across multiple programmes, bringing clarity to delivery plans, dependencies, governance and execution. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving outcomes across a broad range of data capabilities while working closely with senior business and technology stakeholders.

You will inherit a number of active programmes and be expected to assess delivery health, identify risks and challenges, and implement the structures required to ensure successful execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of large‑scale data transformation programmes.
• Establish a consolidated view of delivery plans, milestones, dependencies, risks and resource requirements.
• Drive programme delivery from initiation through to implementation, testing, business adoption and operational handover.
• Lead and coordinate multiple workstreams across data engineering, architecture, migration, integration, reporting, data quality and business readiness.
• Review existing programme delivery approaches and implement improvements where required.
• Build strong governance frameworks that provide visibility and control while maintaining delivery momentum.
• Strengthen RAID management, decision governance and dependency tracking across programmes.
• Ensure robust data controls, validation processes and acceptance criteria are embedded throughout delivery.
• Provide clear and transparent reporting to executive stakeholders, steering committees and senior leadership teams.
• Manage relationships with third‑party suppliers, implementation partners and technology vendors.
• Lead and mentor programme and project teams operating across both permanent and consultancy resource models.
• Support the transition of programme outcomes into sustainable operational ownership and business‑as‑usual processes.
• Collaborate closely with senior leaders across Data, Technology, Architecture, Governance and Business functions.

Experience Required

• Extensive experience leading large‑scale data transformation programmes within Financial Services.
• Previous experience operating as a Data Programme Director, Transformation Director, Head of Data Delivery or similar senior leadership position.
• Proven track record stabilising and delivering complex programmes that are already in flight.
• Experience delivering major data migration, integration, modernisation or platform transformation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of enterprise data environments and modern data platforms.
• Experience coordinating delivery across architecture, engineering, data quality, reporting and migration teams.
• Demonstrable experience managing large delivery teams and external technology partners.
• Strong programme governance, dependency management and delivery planning expertise.
• Executive‑level stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Commercially minded with strong resource and budget management experience.
• Wealth Management, Asset Management or broader Investment Services experience.
• Exposure to Azure‑based data ecosystems and Databricks environments.
• Experience working with major systems integrators and technology implementation partners.